Letters: Vitter abusing appointments plan

I applaud the Our Views piece in the Opinion section of the June 28 Advocate which chastised U.S. Sen. David Vitter for blocking the federal judicial appointment of Baton Rouge attorney Shelly Dick. There seems to be a clear pattern by Sen. Vitter as an “anti” to the point that one must wonder what is he actually “for.”

If one reads Sen. Vitter’s email newsletter(s), one might observe that it is normally parsed in the first person. “I” am doing this and “I” did that seems a common thread. Yet if one reads his newsletter on a frequent basis, a relatively clear pattern is apparent that what he is usually “for” is being in opposition to something or someone. Accordingly, I was not at all surprised that he effectively blocked Ms. Dick’s appointment. This centrist Republican believes we deserve better!

The greater loss is shared by all of us. Dick’s imminent qualifications are near dazzling. Additionally, she is a genuinely nice person and contributes much to our community. She would be an excellent federal judge.

George H. Heard

retired petrochemical employee

Baton Rouget

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 10/07/2012

@ OMK, Uh, what was your point, by the way?

2) Comment by Whatnow - 10/07/2012

I'm conservative because I'm not like you.

3) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 09/07/2012

But, thanks for proving my point. I'm a liberal because I'm not like you!!!!

4) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 09/07/2012

I guess it would be the pot calling them.... if I were a liberal. I left the republican party ten- 15 years ago. When they started getting fanatic. It has only gotten worse over the years.................. I am very proud to be non-affiliated.

5) Comment by Whatnow - 09/07/2012

To the modern liberals, everyone is a ***** racist, rube, homophobes, religious right wing nut, redneck, birther, Foxtards, inbred hillbilly, and Uncle Toms if they do not think exactly as they do. More times than not, these people have no idea what the other side even stands for-- they only know the media driven caricature for the name. This is one of those "pot, kettle, black"-type statements.

6) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 09/07/2012

To the modern conservatives, everyone is Liberal, progressive, sinners if they do not think exactly as they do. More times than not, these people have no idea what the other side even stands for-- they only know the media driven caricature for the name.

7) Comment by Straight Shooter - 09/07/2012

@tradewinns Well, your option is obviously the way a mature adult, who was elected to the one of the most prestigious and highly respected bodies of government, would handle this situation. . .And you are suggesting that this nominee is an ultra liberal. No, wait. You have made the comment on previous articles that she is a liberal. Have you looked at this nominee's credentials? Have you called up this nominee and asked her position on issues of federal law? I'm curious because I would like to know before I call up my senators and ask them not to nominate someone who is either conservative or liberal.

8) Comment by tradewinns - 09/07/2012

sen. vitter should compromise. as soon as an ultra conservative is nominated for the appointment, he should acquiesce and withdraw his objection. now everyone is happy!

9) Comment by nimby? - 09/07/2012

worked for those who supported Nagin , Jefferson , Morial , Edwards , etc.....

10) Comment by DMJ - 09/07/2012

Vitter is a Republican, is he not? The easiest way to be right about the government not being able to do anything is to use whatever power you have to ensure that the government can't function. It's a self-fulfilling, self-service prophecy. It's not even very clever, but I guess it's clever enough to work on the rubes that voted for him.

11) Comment by nimby? - 09/07/2012

Straight Shooter , a lot of intelligent , capable people out there who could serve this country well who'd rather not have their lives placed under a microscope or have their family's world turn inside out by a media hungry for sensationalism ....

12) Comment by Straight Shooter - 09/07/2012

@Whatnow Maybe I should have narrowly defined the problem that I have with Vitter getting a pass on this issue simply because he is trying to score points against the POTUS. If he votes against the POTUS on legislation because of policy issue, that's all good. The people elected him while knowing his slant on a number of issues. However, when Vitter comes out and says that I'm stopping any judicial nominees from getting a confirmation hearing, he is only trying to score ideological points for the sake of campaign funds and support down the road, or does so out pure hatred for someone. There is a process that everyone is bound to, Republican or Democrat. The sitting POTUS nominates federal judges and these judges are confirmed or not confirmed by the Senate. The process doesn't say that the POTUS has to stop filling judicial openings because of an election year. He/she is elected to perform a duty for 4 years, not 2, 3 or however long someone arbitrarily says so. What's even more illogical is that Vitter has nothing to say about Dick's credentials. There is something seriously wrong with the legislative process when someone can not play by the rules and not criticized by even those who support his or her views... And you must not know me too well. I'm not a progressive. Nor am I sinless. I strive to be sinless and only ask my elected officials (Republican or Democrat) to defy the extremes of ideology... You are correct about no one being put up against Vitter. The only opportunity was a moderate like Chris John. It is a failure of both parties to not find someone that is a decent human being and that can govern rather play political games. Like it or not, I find many of those in the Republican party to be embarrassed that Vitter is our Senator.

13) Comment by Elderly Man - 09/07/2012

Neither major party in Louisiana inspires admiration or respect. I lived and worked in New Orleans, a highly corrupt city controlled by Democrats, some of whom are personal friends. I live in Baton Rouge, another city that seems full of legal corruption, though, perhaps, less than in the Big Easy. Senator Vitter is simply a nasty man with bad habits. He disgusts me more for his personal habits than his politics.

14) Comment by Whatnow - 09/07/2012

@Straight Shooter, you think that's it? That it's just that simple? Vitter fights "against" a lot of the things that his constituents are against. Abortion, illegal immigration, irresponsible government spending and waste, etc. If Obama is "for" those things, then, of course, we are "against" him. For us, Mr. Vitter represents us very well. If you Louisiana "Progressives" and sinless people want someone better, you had a chance to come up with someone to beat him. You had that choice and you still do. You can call us sheep, but at least we aren't a party of chickens.

15) Comment by Whatnow - 09/07/2012

Speaking about using the word "I" ..... http://cnsnews.com/news/article/i-me-obama-uses-first-person-pronoun-117-times-1-speech. They all do it.

16) Comment by Straight Shooter - 09/07/2012

Vitter will continue to get elected by an electorate full of sheep that are more concerned with scoring points against the POTUS than getting actual representation. Case in point: some people have commented that they are glad Vitter "kept this liberal off the bench." I had to laugh how uneducated these people must be to make a comment about a potential jurist that is as fair and middle of the road as they come. It's really a shame because this mentality is what keeps Louisiana a banana republic.

17) Comment by nimby? - 09/07/2012

New Orleans has suffered for years under corrupt democratic leadership , kept in power . know nothing political appointees to the levee board who couldn't even keep the grass cut , pathetic ...

18) Comment by Whatnow - 09/07/2012

Keep it up, Senator Vitter. You must be doing things right or the "Progressives" wouldn't be constantly so "anti" Vitter. That includes the Advocate.

19) Comment by nimby? - 09/07/2012

don't remember an R behind Mr. Jeffersons name , assets frozen ?

20) Comment by DMJ - 09/07/2012

Vitter is a disgrace. Instead of resigning, as was appropriate, he was re-elected with almost 70% of the vote. Louisiana's problems are no one else's fault but our own when we elect (and then re-elect) people with no integrity. Just goes to show you....all you have to do to be a politician in Louisiana these days is have an R next to your name and, as often as possible, oppose the President. Pathetic.

21) Comment by Bighug - 09/07/2012

It was nice to learn I'm not the only one to notice that pattern of Vitter's activities.

22) Comment by lovemykids - 09/07/2012

We all know that's not the only thing that Vitter has abused.